Hi, my name is Harold. I have no squadron affiliation, but am an aviation nut with the Vigilante being one of my favorite aircraft. I build scale aircraft models and try to be accurate in what I build. My reason for joining was to ask some technical questions about the aircraft (see general conversation) and to see all the great photos.

Hi my name is Seymour Baer...I was stationed at NAS Sanford from 1964 to 1968 when the base closed...I did my boot

camp at Great lakes and then off the AK "A" School in Millington, TN...then to NAS Sanford then to USS Independence

1968 to 1971...you may not know me but I was the manager for the band on the ship "Blue Bear" we played in the

Med and used to play on the hanger deck....I also did a radio show 6 to 10 PM at sea. .from there I went to NAS Norfolk, VA and then to NAS Pensacola FL and then to the pre com on the USS Nimitz...then back to NAS Norfolk, VA and then to the USS Guam LPH-9...along the way I was aBlue Nose and 3 time Plank Owner...I was in the Navy for 24 years and retired as a AK1 and 20 years as a LSR...I live in Hartford, CT and the key board and singer with the band lives 7 miles from me in West Hartford, CT (small world we live in) if you remember the band and email me at siimchachi@yahoo.com I will send you some photos of the band for your collection of photos on the Independence.

Retired AKC Rod Chapman. Reported to NAS Sanford from Beeville, Tx with orders to VAH-7. At the time most of the maintenance crew was TAD to VAH-5 in the Med. The squadron flew the A3D then prior to transitioning to the A3J-1/A5A Vigilante Made a short )3-1/2 month) "dog and pony" show aboard Enterprise.. Cuban blockade.October 1961. Med cruise (9-1/2 months) 1963. Transferred to NAS Sanford Supply 1964 until base closure 1968. Transferred to SERE School at Little Creek, then Viet Nam

Eventually retired from Independence where I was surprised to learn Vigilantes still flew from the east coast.

I must repeat! The 50th and last NAS Sanford reunion to be held at the Fleet Reserve Branch 147 post home. 3050 W. State Road 46 June 22-thru 24. Information should have been mailed by now.

Since Sanford was the Heavy Attack center (Including the Aj1, A3D, A%A and RA5C we expect a good turn out!

Elsewhere I made an offer to have made a poster of the A3D so that all "Whalers" may have a dedicated area for sign-up.